Visiting Dezhong STB

I reinforced the knowledge on grape production that I gained before, the problems associated, and the major roles being played by the Chinese STB students. Unlike my previous experience in Qianya village, the visit to Dezhong STB was different because the grape production was mainly done in greenhouses. They produced at least five types of grapes, all of which can be consumed fresh or processed into wine. We had the opportunity to test these products, while one of the STB students took us through the details of this place. Dezhong STB was founded due to more or less the same problems that the other villages were facing which include poor soil fertility management, poor irrigation, pests and diseases, and low market value for grape yields. When the STB was created, they started by surveying the area and experimenting to test various production factors. The key to the observations was that the soil pH was too high, ranging to about eight, which is not recommended for optimum crop growth. They then introduced several technologies including remote sensing for diseases, humidity, and temperature in the greenhouses. A lot of progress was made in terms of yield and quality of grapes, with increases in overall revenue. However, the quality of the soil still needed a lot of attention, as it was prone to cracking. Hopefully, with the guidance of experts from the university and students, the farmers now have a better understanding of farming in a much sustainable way.